West Platte girls track shines at Atchison Invitational

Ciara Davies turned in another season-best in the 400 for West Platte, which finished third in the final team standings of the Atchison Invitational on Thursday, April 6 in Atchison, Kan.

Lowering her best time to 1:04.58, Davies just held off Atchison senior Jaihlyn Bratton by 0.32 of a second in the 400 for one of four West Platte individual wins. Sydney Oberdiek, a senior, swept the throwing events, including a season-best 111 feet, 6 inches in the discus.

West Platte sophomore Lea Moose turned in two top-five showings in the distance events, including a runner-up finish in the 3,200. Sikoya Richard, a junior, came in third in the 800.

Davies, Richard, Lindsay Goodwin and Kathryn Layton teamed up for West Platte in the 4x400 and finished second to Atchison. Moose, Richard, Rachel Heili and Lindsay Goodwin — a Class 2 Missouri State Track and Field Championships runner-up team a year ago — also came in second to the hosts.

West Platte finished with 97 points, four back of runner-up Mid-Buchanan. Atchison won the team title with 160½.

North Platte was eighth out of 10 teams, and junior Gracie Roach posted the Panthers’ best finish, second in the high jump (4-10).

On the boys side, North Platte junior Corbin Green continued his strong start to the season. He struggled in the 100 and 200 but posted a 53.90 to easily win the 400, lowering his career-best time by about a half second.

Tyler Meadows, a sophomore, again cleared 10-6 in the pole vault to win the event, while junior Caleb Crumley came in third in the 800 (2:20.17) for North Platte, which finished fourth in the final team standings.

West Platte ended up fifth, just four points back of its KCI Conference rival. Max Davies factored in a pair of victories for the Bluejays. The sophomore long-distance specialist won the 3,200 (10:36.65), wound up second in the 1,600 (4:55.39) and ran a leg on the victorious 4x800 team with Andrew Cicha, Justin Howard and Dylan Lock.

Cole Vandel (300 hurdles, 46.70) and Cole Whalen (javelin, 118-9½) also had runner-up finishes for West Platte.